Tale spin

Germs

Germs in watercolour

Rea Malhotra

In the thick of the first lockdown, Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar got thinking about how children might be making sense of this strange, new world, where cuddles and adventure were suddenly out of bounds. "Given that I am a teacher, I was particularly keen to make something that helped adults explain the pandemic to children. Inspired by a certain pesky virus that just won't go away, I wrote The Germ Academy in mid-May of 2020," says the teacher with the Bombay International School, Mumbai.

She reached out on social media, looking for an illustrator to collaborate with, and mutual friends put her in touch with Shahena. "We knew from the beginning that we wanted the book to appeal to both adults and children. Big fans of watercolour's whimsical nature, we immediately decided to create a vibrant world of germs - some a humorous interpretation of their name [chickenpox], others influenced by the germ's actual genetic make-up [flu]," Mukhtyar adds.
What: The Germ Academy; HarperCollins Publishers India
For: Rs 299

Nani has got your back

This is the fourth title in the Ninja Nani series of middle-grade novels that follow the madcap adventures of Deepu and his granny, who is accidentally zapped with ninja powers. Author Lavanya Karthik says, "Each book features a cast of quirky characters, including a 93-year-old alien hunter, the Mayor's mummy and a little dog with a superhero dream of his own.

Lavanya Karthik

Add in some villains, a dash of mystery, a sprinkling of danger, and some ninja moves. That, in a nutshell, is Ninja Nani!" Karthik wanted to write a book that she would want to read. "Something irreverent, packed with jokes and comics, and rooted in present-day India."
What: Ninja Nani and the Freaky Food Festival; Penguin
For: Rs 250

Meet baby Bhim

The Pandavas are all set to graduate from Guru Dronacharya's school, having learnt how to lead armies and wield battle magic. Now, they must display their skills in a grand tournament before the kingdom. Author Anupam Arunachalam has written this third book in the Young Pandavas series and has also illustrated it.

Anupam Arunachalam

He says, "The book stars the five Pandava brothers, who are the heroes of the great epic, the Mahabharata. The Mahabharata usually introduces them as kids, and then flies through their childhood, which I felt was unfair because a lot of Indians are introduced to the story as kids and don't get to see its heroes as peers."
What: Young Pandavas 3: The Royal Tournament; Hachette India
For: Rs 250

It's a secret no more

What's The Big Secret is a story about a little boy with a question, one that no one seems to want to give him the answer to. He wants to know what periods are. And he's pretty relentless in his pursuit of an answer. "This leads to some awkward moments, for the adults in his life. And some very entertaining ones for you - the reader," laughs author Sonali Shenoy.

The story comes from her own childhood. "I had a really mischievous classmate, who asked a couple of us girls what pads were used for. And we didn't tell him! Then he came back two days later with the funniest answer that unfortunately, would not translate well in print. Fast forward to being an adult now, thinking about all the stories I want to tell - this one stood out." The story is fast-paced, funny and as sensitive as it is inquisitive. It tells you it's okay to have questions.
What: What's the Big Secret?; Penguin
For: Rs 250

A star is born

A Picture book for children aged five to eight, this celebrates young girls and music. The lyrical prose, along with striking illustrations by Nayantara Surendranath and Kanimozhi A, tells a charming tale about how a young girl discovers music. Nandita da Cunha says the story is loosely based on a childhood incident in the life of late sitar and surbahar maestro, Annapurna Devi.

Nandita da Cunha

"The book reminds us that gender matters less than we think. Annapurna Devi went on to establish mastery over her music, and received wide acclaim. But for her, the highest reward was excellence in music; she worshipped music. She believed that women should stand up for what they believe in, and realise their full potential."
What: The Magic in My Fingers; Karadi Tales
For: Rs 250